Tigers finish runner-up at Alexa Stirling Intercollegiate

ATLANTA – Auburn saved its best for last Sunday with a score of 290 (+2) during the third and final round at the Alexa Stirling Women's Intercollegiate. The Tigers nearly came from behind to win the tournament but finished second, one stroke behind Louisville.

"This is the kind of golf I really know that they're capable of playing and expect them to play," Auburn head coach Melissa Luellen said. "To see how we can overcome and how much good golf we can play – we had to count five doubles and two triples in the three days – and to have an opportunity to win the tournament with those kind of mistakes is significant. It just shows them how good they really can be.
 
"And the importance of saving one shot per nine holes – they can all go back and see how they could have saved a shot. You don't really understand how significant one shot is until you lose by a shot. So in one way it's a great lesson builder, and the other it's a great confidence builder."
 
As a team, Auburn shot 883 (+19) through three rounds at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
 
Sophomores Kaleigh Telfer, Mychael O'Berry and Julie McCarthy all shot an even-par 72 in the third round, and all three finished in the top five on the overall player leaderboard.
 
Telfer caused some drama late with birdies on the last two holes, bringing her birdie total to 11 for the tournament, but it wasn't quite enough. Still, the native of South Africa led the Tigers and finished third overall with a three-round score of 217 (+1). O'Berry made two birdies Sunday and finished fourth, one stroke back of Telfer at 218 (+2), and McCarthy ended the weekend in a tie for fifth at 5-over through three rounds.
 
Freshmen Chandler Rosholt and Brooke Sansom, playing as individuals at the event, both finished in the top 20. Rosholt shot a 75 (+3) at Sunday's third round and finished with a 226 (+10) for the weekend. And Sansom, playing in only her second tournament for Auburn, tied her career-low round with a 73 (+1) on Sunday. She shot 227 (+11) through three rounds.
 
Junior Elena Hualde Zúñiga turned in her best round of the weekend with a 2-over 74 on Sunday that included three birdies. She finished the tournament tied for 32nd. And rounding out the Auburn contingent was freshman Anika Bolcíková, who tied for 46th at 236 (+20).
 
Louisville won the tournament at 18-over par (882), followed by Auburn (883), Virginia Tech (889), Indiana (896), Kennesaw State (905), Georgia (907), East Carolina (913), Mercer (915), Coastal Carolina (922), Georgia State (941) and Dartmouth College (948).
 
Team Standings
1. Louisville -- 882 (+18)
2. Auburn -- 883 (+19)
3. Virginia Tech -- 889 (+25)
4. Indiana -- 896 (+32)
5. Kennesaw State -- 905 (+41)
6. Georgia -- 907 (+43)
7. East Carolina -- 913 (+49)
8. Mercer -- 915 (+51)
9. Coastal Carolina -- 922 (+58)
10. Georgia State -- 941 (+77)
11. Dartmouth College -- 948 (+84)
 
Auburn Individuals
3. Kaleigh Telfer – 75, 70, 72 (+1)
4. Mychael O'Berry – 71, 75, 72 (+2)
T5. Julie McCarthy – 75, 74, 72 (+5)
T17. Chandler Rosholt – 75, 76, 75 (+10), ind.
T20. Brooke Sansom – 74, 80, 73 (+11), ind.
T32. Elena Hualde Zúñiga – 76, 80, 74 (+14)
T46. Anika Bolcíková – 73, 81, 82 (+20)